Bigelows, Snows, Appologies to D. L. Roth

[Paradox]

Not just the Bigelows,
I even did the Snows,
A Labor Day Weekend Playing.

Hikin' is my dance
Summits I romance
Every mile my knees are aching.

There will come a day,
knees will pass away,
then what will they say about me.

When the end came I know,
I had dinner with Jazzbo.
life goes on with out me!

What a glorious weekend 9/04/09-9/07/09 it was to hike the Bigelow mountain range in Maine. I left Holderness in the early afternoon and drove up to Maine and slept in the car at the Trailhead on Stratton Brook Pond Road. I parked about 0.1 miles West of the AT crossing because it was signed no vehicles beyond that point however I found the next morning that at least 1/2 dozen had parked further up the road. Started hiking the next morning at 7:00am, taking the Firewarden's Trail and got to the summit of Avery around 10:10am. Views are tremendous. The Firewarden's Trail is steep however there are many carefully constructed steps, the climbing is not difficult by any means. It was clear enough to see both Washington and Katahdin from the Ridge.



Likewise did West Peak and the Horns. I took the AT down to the area where I had parking meeting up with some through hikers: Red Oak, Count Spatula, and Hiker Bob. Gave them each a beer and a ride into Stratton.

Spent the night at the Carrabassett Inn & Grill, and had a great burger and a single malt. The next morning, as I was driving through Stratton I received a cell phone call from Jazzbo, who invited me to spend the night at Marty's. So after finishing Cop Snow and then Cup Snow I headed down to Marty's place for roast pork and conversation with Jazzbo and his wife Allie. All and all a great weekend.



The bridge over the Kennebago River from Tim Pond Road to Lincoln Pond Road is now open and passable.

GPS track and photos Bigelows

GPS track and photos CoP Snow

GPS track and photos Cup Snow

 

[marty]

Hey Paradox!

Nice TR. Quite a nice surprise to see the photo of the Jazzbos standing on the deck in front of my cabin. Glad you had some fabulous weather and views.

Hope our paths cross soon

Marty

 

[Chip]

Nice ! I somehow missed this report. Glad all went well and you came back this time with your car !

 

[una_dogger]

Nice poetry and great report!!

Ack! Cop snow?? You mean I coulda shoulda finished the NEHH with you this past weekend and you didn't INVITE me??? OY....that's OK, the Bonds and the Baldfaces were absolutely stunning...I'm saving COP for terrible weather and a weekday as it should be..

Isn't Allie great?? I don't know how she puts up with that guy...

 

[Paradox]

Ack! Cop snow?? You mean I coulda shoulda finished the NEHH with you this past weekend and you didn't INVITE me??? OY....that's OK, the Bonds and the Baldfaces were absolutely stunning...I'm saving COP for terrible weather and a weekday as it should be..

Just make sure it hasn't rained recently, as the mud and erosion will be biblical. The Penobscots have relocated the lower section of the trails... with a bulldozer. Take a look at my GPS track and you'll find the logging road that they want you to use as the trail continues from trailhead to 3080 feet. Then the old firewardens trail heads up to the right. The old firewardens trail is quite nice, although it will eventually turn into a bushwhack.

No one recommends climbing the remains of the tower, but I did, and I felt completely safe. The views are wonderful. I could see from Katahdin to Washington. The Bigelows are stunning, the Kibby Mtn. windmills are about 10 miles to the Northeast.

 

[una_dogger]

I had to cover my eyes so I couldn't see that last picture!!!

Thanks for the beta, its looking like a late October NEHH finish for me....hoping to catch the tail end of foliage season!

 

[prino]

Nice one! I drove past the Bigelows again last weekend for maybe the 10th time on my way down to Acadia. I'm dying to get up there..... maybe at the gathering.

 

[bubba]

...Views are tremendous. The Firewarden's Trail is steep however there are many carefully constructed steps, the climbing is not difficult by any means. It was clear enough to see both Washington and Katahdin from the Ridge.

Hey! Great hike, huh?? I didn't think that the trail was too steep, but I was busy stacking all of those bolders into staircase formation! Pretty amazing trail. Someone was on a mission doing all of that work. I had the same views and met up with some VFTT readers at the TH for the hike up and back.

Pretty nice getting back on Stratton Pond Road! The second day I drove all the way to the water crossing. I should have launched the kayak that I had on top.

 

[Jazzbo]

Nice shot of Bigs from other side!

Hey .... nice shot of the Bigelow's from the other side. Alli and I enjoyed having you and Zippy over. Glad we could connect. We will hike together some time! Zippy is a great dog!

Unadogger .... Confused .... With views from tower and all ..... why would you want to do COP Snow on rainy day?

 

[Paradox]

Bubba....Bubba....is is is that you?

Good to hear from you, you ol' son of a fossil! Glad your trip to the area went well!

 

[Jazzbo]

Hey! Great hike, huh?? I didn't think that the trail was too steep, but I was busy stacking all of those bolders into staircase formation! Pretty amazing trail. Someone was on a mission doing all of that work. I had the same views and met up with some VFTT readers at the TH for the hike up and back.

I was impressed with the stairs too. I took some pictures of em. See if you can see Jeremy at top waiting for me drag my ..... up.

 

[una_dogger]

Unadogger .... Confused .... With views from tower and all ..... why would you want to do COP Snow on rainy day?

dOH! Trying not to know anything about the peak so its a SURPRISE!

Just sayin', given that the drive to hike ratio is askew -- I won't be wasting a weekend with above treeline weather on it.